Firstborns Likely To Have Higher Iq's

June 12, 1986|By Washington Post

There is new evidence to show that on the average firstborn children have higher IQs than their younger brothers and sisters.

Studies have repeatedly shown that firstborns do better on intelligence tests. Psychologists theorize that parents spend more time and provide more stimulation to their first child, enhancing intellectual development. In a study of children considered at risk for learning problems, University of North Carolina researchers found a seven-point IQ gap between firstborns and younger children who went through the same preschool classes.

''I think we were hoping to find that the education program would be so powerful that it would eliminate the gap, but that didn't happen,'' said Dr. Barbara Boat, the psychologist who headed the study.

The youngsters were enrolled in a program to improve school performance of children from poor families and considered at risk for developmental problems. While the students in the program did better than those without the preschool academic work, the firstborn advantage remained.

The average score on the verbal portion of an IQ test for firstborn children was 105.6, compared with 96.8 for their younger brothers and sisters.